Real Madrid have an aura about them that can be overwhelming to so many of their opponents.
But that doesn't apply to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who has a very good record against the 14-time champions of Europe.
As Treble-chasing City prepare to take on Real in a mouth-watering Champions League semi-final, Guardiola won't feel any intimidation given his record against them as a coach reads: Played 21, won 12, drawn 4, lost 5.
Nor will the prospect of a packed Santiago Bernabeu hold any fear. Guardiola's record there is even more eye-catching, with six wins from 10 visits and only two defeats.
Of course, one of those losses came 12 months ago, when City were seconds away from reaching the final before capitulating in stoppage time.
The other came as Bayern Munich coach, part of a 5-0 aggregate humbling in the 2013-14 Champions League semi-finals.
But Guardiola will prefer to reflect on the many occasions his teams have stormed the citadel.
City came from behind to win 2-1 in the Bernabeu in their 2019-20 last-16 meeting with Real, goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne, a penalty, gave them a first leg advantage.
Because of the Covid pandemic, it took another six months to complete the tie, City repeating the scoreline at a deserted Etihad Stadium to advance 4-2 on aggregate.
In his press conference on Monday, Guardiola was reminded by a Catalan journalist about one of his finest hours when in charge of Barcelona.
That came in 2011, when two Lionel Messi goals gave his all-conquering team a 2-0 first leg advantage in a stormy semi-final tie with Jose Mourinho's Madrid.
A bad-tempered affair saw Barcelona's substitute goalkeeper Jose Pinto being sent off for his part in a fracas on the touchline following the half-time whistle.
Real defender Pepe was dismissed for a reckless high tackle on Dani Alves and Mourinho was subsequently sent to the stands for sarcastically mouthing 'well done' to the fourth official.
With one of their most influential players back in the dressing room, Real were breached twice by Messi, his second goal a mesmerising 30 yard dribble.
The brilliance of Guardiola's Barca was really highlighted by their domestic encounters with Real around that time.
In February 2009, for example, they thrashed Real 6-2 in the Bernabeu, with Messi and Thierry Henry both scoring twice.
Mourinho's first taste of the Clasico, in November 2010, ended in a 5-0 hiding at the Nou Camp. Messi didn't score that time but David Villa, Pedro, Xavi and the long-forgotten Jeffren did.
Indeed, Guardiola won his first five meetings with Real before Mourinho's team clinched the Copa del Rey in 2011 with a 1-0 success.
Normal service was resumed when Barca won that 2011 Champions League semi-finals before Real's 2012 league title win turned the tables a little.
Nonetheless, Guardiola recorded both league and cup wins in the Bernabeu that season to continue his fine record.
His Bayern team never matched the standards set by Carlo Ancelotti's Real, however, and the gulf was brutally illustrated in that 2014 Champions League semi-final.
Having escaped from the Bernabeu with just a one-goal deficit in the first leg, Guardiola would have fancied Bayern's chances but they were simply demolished.
Sergio Ramos twice headed home inside the first 20 minutes and then it was the Cristiano Ronaldo show as the eventual tournament winners ran riot.
City's 2020 win there, inspired by Kevin De Bruyne's assist for Jesus and coolly-converted penalty, proved they could mix it with the very best in Europe.
But following the Covid interruption, Guardiola got his tactics terribly wrong in the quarter-final against Lyon and a golden chance was blown.
Then there was last time. Guardiola spoke about having to re-watch horror show of being 5-3 ahead on aggregate entering the closing stages, only for Rodrygo to score twice and force extra time.
With City's confidence floored, Karim Benzema's penalty sent Real into yet another final and victory over Liverpool which gave them a 14th European crown.
That will be at the back of Guardiola's mind on Tuesday evening, no doubt, but with Erling Haaland fulfilling the talisman role for him as Messi once did, he has no reason to fear the challenge.